Method and game for decorating eggs and other objects



Dec. ,1 6, 1969 I/BARNETT ETAL 3,484,797

METHOD AND GAME FOR DECORATING EGGS AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed April 11,1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG./

INVENTORS IRWIN BARNE1TT Y JAKE MILLARD WILLIAMS ATTORNEYS Dec 16, 1969BARNETT ET AL 3,484,797

METHOD AND GAME FOR DECORATING EGGS AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed April 11,1968 5 sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS IRWIN BARNETT BY JAKE MILLARD WILLIAMSAT TORNEYQ Dec. 16, 1969 1. BARNETT ET AL. 3,484,797

METHOD AND GAME FOR DECORATING EGGS AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed April 11,1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,484,797 METHODAND GAME FOR DECORATING EGGS AND OTHER OBJECTS Irwin Barnett, 534Richmond Road, East Meadow, NY. 11554, and Jake Millard Williams, 211 E.17th St., New York, N.Y. 10003 Continuation-impart of application Ser.No. 633,632, Apr. 25, 1967. This application Apr. 11, 1968, Ser. No.732,471

Int. CL B431 13/10, 9/00, 11/00 US. CI. 33-21 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Apparatus for rotating an egg with a marker resting on itwhile reciprocating the marker relative to the axis of rotation of theegg to put a sinusoidal design on it. The marker can also be held at afixed position along 'the axis to put a circular design on the egg. Theegg can be driven through a member which also constitutes a gear whichcan rotate a table on which is placed a paper disc in substitution forthe egg. In this event the paper disc is decorated.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.633,632 filed Apr. 25, 1967, now abandoned.

DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a device for decorating an egg inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side, partially hidden view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of said apparatus; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention relates to games and moreparticularly to methods and apparatus for decorating eggs and the like.The invention also relates to games capable of being selectively set upfor use with different geometric forms.

One object of the invention is to provide means and techniques fordecorating Easter eggs and the like with sinusoidal and circulardesigns.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simpleapparatus for placing decorations on eggshaped objects by means whichare relatively simple to operate and which have simple adjustments forpurposes of varying the applied designs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a decorating device whichcan be set up to decorate egg-shaped devices but which can be modifiedto decorate a different geometric form such as a disc.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a decorating device ofthe above-noted type which can be economically produced and which can bemanufactured in accordance with mass production techniques.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention there is provided anapparatus which comprises a means for supporting an egg-shaped objectand rotating the same about an axis thereof, there being furtherprovided decorating control means to hold a marking means for makingcontact with the object as the object rotates, the marking means beingdisplaced along the axis of the object during the rotation of the latterfor purposes of making sinusoidal designs on the object or being held ata position which is fixed relative to the axis of the object forpurposes of making circular designs transversely aligned relative tosaid axis.

In accordance with a modification, the means for rotating the egg can beconstituted by a gear and a rotatable table can be located to be drivenby the gear adjacent the marking means so that a paper disc or the likecan be decorated.

Various objects and advantages of the invention, as well. as featuresthereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description,reference being made to the drawing described above.

In FIGS. 13 is seen an apparatus which comprises generally a tray 10 onwhich is superposed a casing 12 and a wall 14 which is spaced from thecasing. A pair of cup-shaped chuck members 16 and 18 are respectivelyand coaxially supported on the casing 12 and wall 14. These cup-shapedmembers 16 and 18 are replaceable, as will become apparent hereinafterand may be replaced by other similar cup-shaped members of greater orlesser dimension which are suitable for supporting various sizes ofegg-shaped members or the like.

The cup-shaped member 18 is more particularly supported on a pin 20slidably supported in wall 14 and provided with a knob 22 by means ofwhich the pin 20 and member 18 can be manipulated. A spring 24 encirclespin 20 and is sandwiched between a washer 26 resting against wall 14 andthe cup-shaped member 18, the spring 24 being under compression andthereby urging the cupshaped member 18 in the direction indicated byarrow 28. When the knob 22 is pulled against the action of the spring24, the cup-shaped member 18 is displaced in a direction opposite tothat indicated by arrow 28 whereby an egg-shaped object can be insertedor withdrawn from between the cup-shaped members.

Cup-shaped member 16 is supported on a shaft 30, in turn supported in abushing 32 which is preferably integral with the tray 10. The tray 10and bushing 32 may preferentially be fabricated of a suitable plasticmaterial.

Shaft 30 includes an end 34 which extends outwardly from bushing 32 andhas mounted thereon a spur gear 36. This spur gear is preferentiallyengaged by a drive pinion 38 rotatably supported on a wall 40 andengaged by an end 42 of a crank handle 44, the handle 46 of which ismanually engaged for rotation of pinion 38 and thereby gear 36 and shaft30.

. Also mounted on shaft 30 and driven by rotation of gear 36 is a crowngear 48, the teeth of which mesh with a pinion 50 which is connectedwith and dripes a Wheel or disc 52. The various gear ratios are suchthat for one rotation of shaft 30 the disc 52 rotates an integral numberof times preferably greater than one.

Pinion 38 may, by way of example, have twelve teeth, while spur gear 36has sixty teeth, the crown gear 48 having fifty-six teeth and pinion 50having fifty teeth. This arrangement will provide for an integral numberof rotations of the disc 52 for each rotation of the shaft 30.

' It is to be understood that the particular arrangement of gears isexemplary only and that various other arrangements of gears arepossible. Particularly, it is within the scope of the invention toprovide for replacement of one or more of these gears to effect a changein drive ratio as between the shaft 30 and the disc 52. For this purposeit is especially suitable that the gear or pinion 50 be affixed to thedisc 52, the disc 52 being replaceable with a related pinion of adifferent number of teeth, whereby it becomes a very simple matter tovary the ratio of drive as between disc 52 and shaft 30.

The disc 52 is, by way of example, provided with a plurality of holes54. These may be aligned in one or more radial arrays as indicated at 56and 58. These holes are intended to receive a pin by means of which arectilinearly-shaped link 60 is pivotally coupled to the 3 disc atvarious selected distances from the center or axis 62 of the disc.

The link is reciprocated, by means of this connection, back and forth inthe direction indicated by arrow 64, which direction may be consideredas being generally parallel to the axis 66 which constitutes the axis ofrotation of shaft 30, as Well as the axis of rotation of the object tobe decorated.

Link 60 has one end 68 which is provided with a number of holes 70 whichcan be selectively engaged with a pin 72 on a member 74. The holes 70provide for varying the effective length of the link 60 to provide afunction which will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The member 74 is a hinge member which is provided with two flanges 76and 78 by means of which slidable engagement is made with a slide 80,whereby the hinge member 74 is enabled to partake of a guided reciprocalmovement in the direction indicated by arrow 64. Laterally extendingfrom hinge member 74 are pins 82 and 84 which are engaged by straps 86and 88 respectively, these straps being connected by a transverse member90 having an opening 92 therein.

Straps 86 and 88, together with transverse member 90, collectivelyconstitute a holder for a marking device 94 which is accommodatedpreferably by a force fit in the opening 92, the marking device 94 beingconstituted, for example, by a stylus, a crayon, a pen, or the like. Theholder, constituted by said members 86, 88 and 90, is free to partake ofa movement indicated by arrow 96, which is coaxially disposed relativeto the axis of pins 82 and 84.

On the casing 12 is provided a flat area 98 in which is provided arectilinear array of holes 100. It is possible to detach the link 60from connection in holes 54 and to attach the link 60 by means of a pinto one of the holes 100 whereby the link 60 will be held in a fixedposition relative to the axis 62 whereby the marking device 94 will onlypartake of movement indicated by arrow 96 with the partaking of movementindicated by arrow 64.

An egg-shaped object 102 is illustrated on which have been placed aplurality of designs in accordance with the invention. Two circulardesigns 104 and 106 are illustrated, these resulting from a rotation ofegg 102 about its axis by manipulation of handle 46, with the link 60being first connected in one of the holes 100 and then in another ofsaid holes. For each hole in which link 60 is engaged, one of thecircular patterns will be developed.

When the link '60 is coupled to one of the holes 54, rotation of handle46 will not only rotate egg 102 about its axis, but will also rotatedisc 52 and impart a reciprocating movement to link 60 as well as tohinge device 74. The marker 94 will move back and forth according toarrow 64 and will mark the egg with one of the sinusoidal designs 108and 110, these two designs illustrating changes which occur by reason ofchanging the connection of link 60 with openings 54 and by reason ofchanging the gear ratios of gears 36, 38, 48 and 50 by replacing one ormore of these gears.

The designs may be shifted towards one end or the other of theegg-shaped object 102 by means of openings 70 in the hinge device 74.This can be usefully employed for centering designs on eggs of variouslengths.

Within the scope of the invention it is contemplated that the markingdevice 94 be substituted by other marking devices of different colors sothat multi-color patterns can be developed. For this purpose, the trayis provided with a plurality of contiguous grooves 112 in which the idlemarking devices can be stored.

As has been noted hereinabove, cup-shaped members 16 and 18 arereplaceable. Although these members can be fabricated of materials suchas rubber, flexible plastics and the like, it may sometimes occur thatthe shapes of the egg-shaped objects to be decorated vary too widely tobe accommodated by the materials employed for the fabrication of saidcup-shaped members. In this event,

cup-shaped members of different dimensions are made available, thesecup-shaped members being attached to their respective supports by screwsor by snap-on constructional features of known design. To this end thereare provided a plurality of receptacles 114 in which the idle cup-shapedmembers can be stored.

It will be readily appreciated that the above construction can befabricated almost entirely from plastic materials and that theconstruction is of such great simplicity as to warrant its use as a gameor toy which can be manufactured very economically and with the use ofmass production techniques.

It is to be understood that the marking device 94 preferably makescontact with the object to be decorated under the influence of gravity,this being a very simple manner of assuring a complete and continuousdesign application. The relatively free vertical displacement permittedthe marking device 94 will assure that it will not only follow thecurved surface of egg-shaped objects which are to be decorated, but thatas well irregularities in the surface of the object to be decorated willas present no obstacle to the attaining of a complete design.

It will be further noted that both sinusoidal and circular designs arepossible, the latter being afforded by the locking means which areinclusive of the holes 100.

It will be readily appreciated that the method of the inventioncomprises, for example, rotating an egg on its axis while reciprocatinga marker back and forth along said axis with the marker resting on theegg under the in fluence of gravity.

In accordance with the invention a further feature is provided which hasunique advantages with respect to decorating devices hereinbeforeavailable. This aspect of the invention relates to the possibility ofproviding a decoration apparatus which will serve the purpose ofdecorating an egg-shaped object while at the same time additionallyproviding the possibility of decorating a disc of paper or the like. Anembodiment of the invention suitable for this purpose is illustrated inFIG. 4.

The decoration apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises a base on whichare mounted a casing 152 and a casing 154 serving the same purposes ashave been hereinbefore indicated with respect to the the apparatusillustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

In the casing 154 is mounted a rod 156 on one end of which is supporteda knob 158 and on the other end of which is mounted a cup 160 adaptedfor engaging one end of an egg-shaped object. Within the casing 154 andconcealed from view is provided a spring which urges the cup-shapedmember 160 towards the casing 152.

The casing 152 conceals an arrangement of gears or other such drivingmembers which enables the application of a manual force on a handle 162to drive the eggshaped member and to reciprocate simultaneously amarking means 164 supported by a frame 62 pivoted on a hinge 172 in themanner which has been described above for decorating an egg-shapedobject.

A second cup-shaped member is indicated at 172 and is rotatable about anaxis corresponding to that of cupshape member 160' by means of arotational force generated by operation of the handle 162. Cup-shapedmember 172 is, however, different from that illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 inthat there is supported thereon and preferably integral therewith a spurgear 174.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, there isprovided a projection 176 which is adapted to detachably support ahollow sleeve 178 fabricated, for example, of metal or of a plastichaving suitable strength. The sleeve 178 is selectively mountable on theprojection 176 and is adapted to accommodate a stub shaft 180 connectedto and supporting a rotatable table 182, which in turn is adapted toaccommodate a paper disc 184 or the like which rests atop said table.

The table- 182 may be provided with a plurality of clips 186, 188 and190 which clamp the paper disc 184 to the table.

Assuming that it is desired to decorate a paper disc 184 rather than anegg-shaped object, the sleeve 178 is placed upon the projection 176 andthe stub shaft 180 of the table 182 is inserted into the upper end ofsleeve L188. This will bring the crown gear 192, provided on the lowerperiphery of table 182, into engagement with the stub gear 174, suchthat a rotation of the latter will cause rotation of the table 182 andthe paper disc 184 thereon. Since at the same time marker 164 will bereciprocating back and forth in a direction parallel to the axes ofholder 160 and 172, an interesting decoration will result on the paperdisc 184.

If at any time it is desired to decorate an egg-shaped object, the table182 can be readily detached and the cupshaped members 160- and 172employed to support the egg-shaped object which will be decorated in themanner discussed hereinabove.

While there has been indicated a spur gear 174 which is connected to orpreferably integral with the cupshaped member 172, it is possible that acup-shaped member be provided which is wholly detachable from the devicewith a separate spur gear being substitutable therefor. In this event,the separate spur gear 174 will be driven by operation of the handle16-2 and the device operated in a manner such as has been indicatedhereinabove.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modificationsand variations of the method and apparatus described above.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for decorating an egg-shaped object or the like, saidapparatus comprising support means for supporting said object in adecorating zone and rotating the same about an axis thereof, markingmeans, decorating control means to hold said marking means for makingcontact with said object as the latter rotates, said decorating controlmeans comprising means for displacing said marking means in parallel tosaid axis as said object rotates and holding said marking means forrelatively free vertical displacement to engage said object under theinfluence of gravity whereby, as the marking means is displaced alongsaid axis, the marking means readily follows the curve of said object,and drive means for simultaneously driving said support means to rotatesaid object and operating said control means to displace the markingmeans along said axis, said driving means and control meanscooperatively including means for reciprocating said marking means alongsaid axis during each rotation of said object, said control meansincluding means to control the magnitude of the reciprocating movementof said marking means; said control means further including a disccoupled to and driven by said driving means, a link pivotally andselectively connectable to said disc at different distances from thecenter of the latter, a hinge device coupled to and driven by said link,and a holder hingeably connected to said hinge device and adapted tohold said marking means, said disc and hinge device having spaced andperpendicularly-related axes, said link being selectively connectable tosaid hinge device at different effective lengths of said link.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means selectivelyengageable with said control means to lock the marking means at aselected position along said axis.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving means includesa rotatable shaft connected to said support means, a gear on said shaftfor rotating the latter, a second gear for driving the first said gear,a handle for manually driving said second gear, and further gears drivinby the first said gear and adapted for driving said control means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of said gearsis replaceable for varying the drive ratio.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said support means includestwo facing cup-shaped members one of which is mounted on said shaft, awall, a pin displaceably mounted on said Wall and supporting the otherof said members, and a spring yieldably urging the member on the pintowards the member on the shaft.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cupshaped members andmarking means are replaceable.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising a plastic casingsupporting said support means and control means and including an apronprovided with receptacles for substitute marking means and cup-shapedmembers.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means to guide said hingedevice in parallel to the axis of the object.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said further gears include acrown gear and a pinion in interengaged relation and wherein said holderis an open frame.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rotatable tableadapted for being selectively positioned adjacent said decorating zonewith said marking means superposed with respect thereto, said drivingmeans engaging said support means and being adapted to rotate said tablethrough the intermediary of said support means whereby an object on thetable will be decorated in substitution for the first said object.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said table includes aperipheral crown gear and said support means includes a spur gearjuxtaposed to support means for driving said crown gear.

12. Decorating apparatus comprising support means to support anegg-shaped object in a decoration zone, marking means adapted to rest onsaid object to decorate the same, driving means to drive said supportmeans and rotate said object and for simultaneously reciprocating saidmarking means in parallel to the axis of said object, and a rotatabletable selectively positionable in said zone such that the marking meanscan rest thereon, said table being adapted for being selectively coupledto and rotated by said driving means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said driving means iscoupled to said table through the intermediary of said support means.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said driving means includesmeans for manual operation.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 comprising a base supporting saidsupport means and a detachable insert for supporting said table.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 537,125 4/1895 Rovensky. 842,4471/1907 Cooley. 3,256,606 6/1966 Horta.

HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

